liii!!iiHiiilliii!i{JJiiiiii!ii;!ii!!iir;l 


3^1  s 


UC-NRLF 


B    3    M77    EED 


BIOGRAPHY 

OF 

MASTER    BURKE, 

THE 

JRISB  MOSCZUSs 

THE   WONDER   OF  THE  WORLD; 

AND 

THE  PARAGON  OF  ACTORS. 


"O  'tis  a  parlous  boy." 

"1  spare  my  praises  towards  him. 

Knowing  him  is  enough." — Shakspeure, 


This  wonderful  Boy  is  the  most  extraordinary  instance  of  precocius 
genius  that  has  appeared  in  Europe  during  the  present  century,  At 
seven  years  of  age  he  was  introduced  to  the  fete  King  ol  England, 
(ieorge  the  4th,  at  the  Pavilion  at  Brighton,  who  expressed  in  warm 
terms  his  admiration  of  his  musical  powers.  The  London  Critics  pro- 
nounce themselves  at  a  loss  which  to  admire  most  his  histrionic  er 
musical  talents. 


PHILADELFHIAt 

SHAKSPEARE     PRESS, 

32  Washington  Square. 
TURNER. 


1 


0^ 


r.- 


^:w>'- 


i¥m--^^ 


BIOGRAFHir 

OF 

THE 

IRISH  ROSCIUS. 


"  O  'tis  a  parlous  boy." 

"  I  spare  my  praises  towards  him. 

Knowing  him  is  enough," — Shakspeare. 


Joseph  Burke  is  descended  from  one  of  the  most 
respectable  families  in  the  county  of  Galway,  in  Ire- 
land ;  his  father  being-  nephew  to  Sir  John  Blake,  and 
consequently  first  cousin  to  Valentine  Blake,  Esq. 
who  represented  the  above  county  for  some  years. 
Mr.  Burke  is  also,  as  we  are  informed,  first  or  second 
cousin  to  Sir  John  Burke,  whose  family  once  possessed 
considerable  estates  in  the  county  of  Galway  ;  but  by 
adhering  to  the  cause  of  Charles,  they  suffered  in  com- 
mon with  those,  who  having  pledged  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  that  monarch,  refused  to  abandon  his  for- 
tunes. The  descendants,  therefore,  of  the  families  who 
had  been  plundered  of  their  possessions  by  Cromwell, 
were  obliged  to  trust  to  their  talents  for  the  means  of 
subsistance,  which  they  employed,  of  course,  in  various 
ways. 


Ml6S?37 


His  father  is  a  medical  man,  and  rose  to  the  top  of 
his  profession  in  his  native  town  of  Galway.  He  mar- 
ried Catherine,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Blake,  Esq. 
\^ho  is  the  son  of  D.  Blake,  Esq.  of  Castlehamby, 
by  Miss  Hoare,  the  daughter  of  Sir  J.  Hoare,  bart. 
Doctor  Burke  for  several  years  officiated  as  surgeon 
to  the  town  and  jail  of  Galway  ;  and  during  the  dread- 
ful fever  in  1818,  he  was  unanimously  elected  to  the 
care  of  the  fever  hospital  in  the  above  place.  So  great 
was  the  doctor's  anxiety,  seconded  by  his  desire  to 
cure  his  numerous  patients,  that  he  had  nearly  fallen  a 
sacriHce  to  that  terrible  disease.  On  Mr.  Burke's  re- 
linquishing his  situation  at  the  Fever  Hospital,  he  re- 
ceived the  public  thanks  of  the  inhabitants  of  Galway. 

The  Blakes  and  the  Hoares,  the  ancestors  of  Master 
Burke,  can  trace  their  pedigree  to  the  most  remote 
period  of  antiquity ;  but  the  above  great  little  hero 
does  not  stand  in  need  of  the  boast  of  family  pride,  to 
raise  hin  in  the  estimation  of  the  public.  The  Knowlans 
and  Dowlans  likewise,  are  all  Na-bock-lesh  to  his 
well  earned  coat  of  arnjs,  (without  the  aid  of  the  He- 
rald's othce,)  which  have  been  produced  by  industry, 
genius,  and  talent;  and  long,  very  long,  may  Master 
Burke  continue  to  receive  the  reward  due  to  his  exer- 
tions— Fame  and  Favor, 

Master  Burke,  at  the  early  age  of  six  months,  evinc- 
ed a  taste  for  music.  He  was  a  very  delicate  infant, 
and  suffered  severely  by  teething;  and  nothing  could 
appease  him  but  musical  sounds  ;  if  a  discordant  note 
was  touched,  it  always  made  him  cry  ;  bnt  on  the  oth- 
er hand,  he  expressed  the  greatest  delight  with  the 
performances  of  persons  of  talent.  Jf  the  air  was  slow 
and  pathetic,  he  kept  time  by  bowing  his  little  head ; 
but  when  the  tune  was  lively,  it  was  ditHcult  to  hold 
him,  as  he  would  almost  jump  out  of  the  arms  of  his 
nurse. 

When  Master  Burke  was  only  twelve  months  old, 
lie  could  sing  the  airs  of  every  song  he  heard,  with  the 


most  exquisite  taste  ;  and  as  soon  as  he  could  articu- 
late any  of  the  words  of  the  air,  he  alwaj^s  applied 
them  to  the  right  part  of  the  music.  His  extraordinary 
taste  for  music  excited  the  astonishment  of  every  per- 
son who  saw  and  heard  the  child  ;  and  when  he  had 
arrived  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  a  half,  ladies  were 
afraid  to  play  in  his  presence,  as  in  case  they  touched 
any  false  note,  he  immediately  exclaimed,  "  You  have 
no  taste  1" 

A  small  violin  was  put  in  his  hsinds  when  he  was 
three  years  old,  which  he  handled  in  such  a  superior 
style,  as  to  induce  his  father  to  lose  no  time  in  procur- 
ing the  first  performers  on  the  above  instrument  which 
the  town  aftbrded,  to  instruct  him.  This  extraordinary 
child  made  such  rapid  progress  with  the  violin,  that  in 
the  short  space  of  three  months,  he  could  play  twelve 
tunes  with  good  taste  and  fine  execution. 

When  Master  Burke  had  attained  his  fifth  year,  it 
was  discovered  he  possessed  great  dramatic  talent^ 
and  requisites  for  the  stage.  In  a  comic  song,  abound- 
ing with  recitation,  he  astonished  all  his  hearers  ;  and 
in  order  to  ascertain  the  eftect  of  his  own  gestures  and 
actions  upon  an  audience,  when  alone^  he  rehearsed 
before  a  looking  glass. 

At  the  suggestion  of  his  father,  he  studied  the  parts? 
of  Tom  Thumb  and  Lingo,  with  so  much  success  and 
confidence,  that  he  appeared  in  the  above  characters 
at  the  Theatre  Koyal,  Dublin,  in  May,  1824.  The 
audience  were  delighted  with  the  great  capabilities 
displayed  by  the  little  hero;  and  his  exertions  were 
crowned  with  the  most  decided  success.  Since  which 
period  he  has  performed  at  Liverpool,  Newcastle, 
Brighton,  Margate,  and  at  several  other  provincial 
Theatres,  to  overflowing  houses.  He  also  appeared 
at  the  Theatre  Royal,  Haymarket,  about  three  years 
since,  with  the  highest  marks  of  approbation  a  London 
audience  could  bestow  on  an  actor.  In  Doctor  Pan- 
gloss>  Dennis  Brulgruddery,  Crackj  Murtoch  Delaney, 


Looney  M'Twolter,  Dr.O'Toole,  Sir  Callagan  O'BraN 
lasifhan,  Dr.  Lenitive,  General  Bombastes,  Lord  Du- 
berly,  and  Patrick  and  Darby,  he  has  been  received 
with  thunders  of  applause. 

The  musical  education  of  Master  Burke,  and  his 
performances  on  the  violin,  have  been  principally  un- 
der the  guidance  of  Mons.  Ambroise,  of  the  lloyal 
Academy  in  Paris.  It  must  be  admitted  that  Master 
Burke  has  proved  himself  an  apt  pupil,  and  he  like- 
wise reflects  the  greatest  cradit  on  the  talents  and  ex- 
ertions of  his  instructor.  As  a  performer  on  the  violin, 
this  highly  gifted  little  creature  (when  only  eight  years 
old)  was  considered  to  have  no  competitor  at  twice  his 
age  ;  he  reads  and  plays  any  piece  of  music,  however 
difficult,  with  the  greatest  ease.  Mons.  Ambroise 
likewise  taught  his  pupil  duncing. 

AVe  are  assured  that,  previous  to  his  performance  of 
Doctor  O'Toole,  in  the  farce  of  the  Irish  Tutor,  he 
never  saw  any  other  performer  play  the  part ;  and  so 
^\  pleased  was  O'Keefe,  the  veteran  dramatic  author, 
\^  ith  the  great  talent  displayed  by  this  child,  at  Chi- 
chester, he  presented  him  with  a  pair  of  silver  shoe 
buckles,  worn  by  himself  when  a  boy  ;  he  also  gave  him 
a  lock  of  his  hair,  and  requested  that  on  his  death  it 
would  be  worn  in  a  ring  by  him.  Miss  Paton,  at  Liv- 
erpool, was  likewise  so  enraptured  with  his  musical 
performances,  that  she  could  not  refrain  from  saluting 
the  young  hero,  as  a  tender  mark  of  her  approbation  ; 
and  it  is  also  the  avowed  opinion  of  Mr.  Elliston,  take 
him  for  *'all  in  all,"  he  never  saw  any  thing  like  such 
a  prodigy  as  Maste  Burke. 

At  the  Surry  Theatre  he  is  an  immense  favorite  ;  in 
fact,  he  might  be  termed  one  of  the  wonders  of  the 
w^orld.  The  pen  of  the  critic  falls  short,  in  attempting 
to  describe  the  superior  talents  possessed  by  this  un- 
rivalled youth.  A  new  piece,  entitled  the  March  of 
Intellect,  had  been  written  for  him,  in  which  he  sus- 
tains six  different  characters.     He  is   first  seen  as  a 


child  eight  years  of  aj^e,  and  his  simplicity  and  man- 
ners are  truly  admirable.  Next,  as  an  Irishman,  he  is 
viewed  to  great  advantage;  his  brogue  is  not  only  as  rich 
as  gold,  but  the  peculiarities  of  the  character  are  sus- 
tained with  infinite  humor  and  effect.  In  the  Counsellor 
he  is  quite  at  home;  and  his  mode  of  cross  examining, 
and  "laying  down  the  law,"  is  equal  to  that  of  any  old 
Bailey  barrister  of  twenty  years'  standing.  It  is  a  most 
excellent  and  highly  finished  portrait.  In  the  Italian, 
we  were  astonished,  delighted,  nay  enraptured,  with 
his  exertions,  beyond  expression.  His  performance 
on  the  violin  was  a  masterpiece.  His  tones  were  bril- 
liant, and  his  execution  of  the  first  quality.  In  the 
Sailor,  Jack  Ratlin,  he  was  equally  rich  :  it  was  an 
ably  drawn  picture  of  a  British  seaman,  "and  to  hand, 
reef,  and  steer,"  appeared  as  easy  to  him,  as  if  he  had 
been  bred  on  board  a  160  gun  ship.  His  hornpipe  so 
delighted  the  audience  that  he  was  encored,  with  the 
loudest  peals  of  applause  ever  heard  in  any  theatre. 
But  the  grand  climax  to  the  whole,  vras  his  personifi- 
cation of  Napoleon.  His  attitudes,  the  reserve,  sud- 
den impule,  hasty  strides,  and  dignity  possessed  by 
the  above  greatest  hero  in  his  day,  in  the  whole  world, 
was  represented  by  Master  Burke  in  such  a  superior 
style  of  the  histrionic  art  as  completely  to  beggar  alt 
description.  In  so  young  a  child  we  never  saw  any 
thing  like  so  much  mind  before 

His  performance  throughout,  (save  the  dancing  and 
violin,)  appeare  to  be  intuitive.  He  is  quite  a  master 
of  his  art,  the  stage  is  completely  his  own,  his  en- 
trances and  exits  are  marked  by  the  best  taste  possible, 
and  his  bye  play  is  equally  as  imposing  with  the  au- 
dience as  the  most  experienced  actor.  His  articulation 
is  disitnct;  his  emphasis  correct;  and  his  judgment  far, 
very  far  above  his  years.  His  very  soul  seems  to  be 
absorbed  in  the  characters  he  has  to  represent,  he 
never  tires,  but  goes  through  the  whoJe  af  his  partSi 
with  the  most  unceasing  energy* 


8 

For  the  last  twenty  years  we  have  seen  all  the  juve- 
nile performers  in  the  kingdom  ;  but  we  never  witnes- 
sed any  thing  like  the  great  talents  displayed  by  Master 
Kurke— he  leaves  them  all  at  an  immeasurable  distance. 
He  must  be  seen  to  have  justice  done  him — and  the 
lovers  of  talent,  we  assert,  without  fear  of  contradiction, 
in  witnessing  his  performances,  will  experience  a  treat 
of  the  highest  quality.  Well  may  it  be  called  the 
inarch  of  intellect;  for  such  a  capacious  display  of 
mind  is  not  often  to  be  met  with  in  any  person. 

In  private  life,  although  a  child  in  appearance,  his 
opinions  and  manner  display  the  intellect  of  man.  It 
is  also  worthy  of  notice,  that  the  brother  of  Master 
Burke,  a  child  only  three  years  of  age,  possesses  great 
musical  abilities.  At  the  Nottingham  Theatre,  for 
the  benefit  of  Master  Burke,  he  played  Robin  Adair,, 
on  the  violin.  This  little  boy  also  led  the  band  in  the 
national  anthem  of  "  God  save  the  king."  The  audi- 
ence were  delighted  beyond  description. 

We  have  now  to  speak  of  Master  Burke's  profession- 
al attainments.  On  viewing  him  iu  the  combined  light 
of  actor  and  musician,  we  certainly  think  we  are  war- 
ranted to  declare  that  he  is  the  most  astonishing  in- 
stance of  precocious  talent  it  ever  fell  to  the  biograph- 
er's lot  to  record ;  for  though  there  are  many  extraor- 
dinary examples  handed  down  to  us  of  early  genius 
being  evinced  in  either  of  the  above  sciences,  yet  we 
believe  they  have  never  been  so  admirably  united  iw 
one  so  young  till  now. 

Although  Master  Burke  is  only  in  his  twelfth  year» 
he  possesses  as  tine  a  power  of  observation  and  as  cor- 
rect an  idea  of  genuine  humour  as  any  actor  we  ever 
saw.  His  attitudes,  too,  are  astonishing,  varied,  easy 
and  graceful :  while  his  by-play,  self-possession,  and 
attention  to  the  business  of  the  scene,  even  in  the  most 
difficult  characters,  are  no  less  curious  than  gratifying 
to  witness. 


9 

Though  his  tragedy  is  of  a  very  superior  order,  we 
think  that  the  bent  of  his  genius  is  decidedly  comic : 
there  is  a  playful  gaiety  in  his  manner,  and  an  arch- 
ness and  vivacity  in  his  looks,  all  admirably  adapted 
to  the  service  of  Thalia.  Indeed,  in  some  of  his  favor- 
ite performances,  his  acting  was  so  easy,  so  utterly 
void  of  art,  that  the  stage  seemed  his  proper  home, 
and  the  happiest  imitation  of  the  varieties  of  human 
life  a  part  of  his  own  nature.  There  is  one  character 
in  particular  which  we  will  notice,  for  it  induced  us  to 
make  the  above  remark.  It  is  in  a  farce  called  At 
Home  for  the  Holidays,  where  Master  Burke  had  to 
represent  a  young  lad  returned  from  school,  who  is  al- 
lowed the  absolute  mastership  of  the  family  for  one  en- 
tire day.  The  glee  he  displayed  when  he  compelled 
his  old  tutor  to  learu  the  lessons  with  which  he  had 
been  teased  during  the  past  month,  was  delightful ;  his 
audacious  ease,  and  high  good  humor,  when  he  ordered 
the  servants  about,  was  truly  laughable. 

Of  his  performance  of  Richard  and  Shylock,  we  can 
only  observe  that  he  spoke  the  dialogue  with  great 
correctness,  evidently  appearing  to  feel  the  sentiments 
he  uttered,  and  displayed,  in  some  of  the  impassioned 
scenes  that  true  energy  which  is  as  removed  from  the 
boisterous  rant  of  certain  actors  we  could  mention,  as 
the  cool  courage  of  a  Henry  differs  from  the  bragga- 
docia  of  a  Pistol.  We  cannot  better  close  this  memoir 
than  by  the  following  extract  from  Mr.  Stafford's  very 
interesting  History  ot  Music  : — '•  Master  Burke  is,  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years,  one  of  the  finest  violinists  in 
the  kingdom.  The  ease,  the  feeling,  the  brilliance  and 
fineness  of  his  tone,  and  the  scientific  acquirements  of 
this  mere  child,  are  allowed,  by  all  who  have  heard 
him,  to  be  most  surprising." 

Old  Heads  on  Young  Shoulders^  a  one-act  piece,  com- 
piled by  Mr.  Monscrieff,  in  which  Master  Burke  per- 
forms the  part  of  a  faithful  servant,  who  is  left  in  the 
care  of  a  young  lady  (his  master's  intended,)  whom  a 


10 

party  of  ruffians  have  attempted  to  carry  off.  Master 
li.  by  assuming  the  disguises  of  a  gardener,  valet, 
cook,  and  a  veteran  seaman,  contrives  to  intimidate 
the  above  ruffians  into  the  behef  that  the  house  is  full 
of  company,  till  his  master  really  arrives  uith  his 
friends.  Master  Burke  supported  his  characters  very 
cleverly,  and  certainly  by  his  acting,  in  a  measure, 
contrived  to  dispel  the  author's  absurdity  of  a  child 
tViuhtening  a  band  of  robbers. 

In  this  piece  iMaster  Burke  appears  to  give  instruc- 
tions to  the  orchestra  towards  the  composition  of  an 
overture  after  the  plan  of  De  Begnis'  well  known  bufia 
scena.  He  also  accompanied  Miss  Soraerville,  on  the 
violin,  in  two  duetts  ;  his  ettbrts  were  rewarded  by  re- 
peated bursts  of  applause. 

This  talented  boy  took  his  farewell  of  a  London  au- 
dience, at  the  Surry  1  heatre,  which  was  absolutely 
crowded  to  excess.  He  sustained  the  character  of 
Richard  III;  Tristam  Fickle  in  the  Weathercock; 
Shotto,  in  Old  Heads  on  Young  Shoulders;  and  Six 
characters  in  Whirligig  Hall.  This  Evening's  task, 
therefore,  included  the  assumption  of  no  less  than 
eighteen  different  characters.  He  nttered  from  memo- 
ry at  least  3000  lines,  and  dressed  no  fewer  than 
twenty  times. 

Setting  talents  out  of  the  question,  what  an  under- 
taking for  a  boy  of  twelve  years  of  age  !  He  played  a 
difficult  overture  on  the  violin,  an  accompainment  on 
the  violincello,  and  a  prelude  on  the  piano  forte,  in  a 
manner  which  stamped  him  as  a  Musician  of  the  highest 
attainments.  To  conclude  he  spoke  such  an  address 
in  such  language  as  a  boy  might  speak;  no  straining 
after  etfect,  but  w  ith  the  pathos  and  simplicity  of  a 
child,  taking  leave  of  his  home  and  his  friends.  He 
was  much  affected,  and  his  feelings  were  universally 
reciprocated  by  the  audience. 


11 

Our  hero  arrived  in  New- York,  in  November,  1830, 
and  the  excitement  and  admiration  occasioned  by  this 
Paragon  of  Actors  in  that  city  are  unparailelled  in  the 
Annals  of  the  Drama.  This  prodigy  is  performing  at 
the  Arch  Street  Theatre,  Philadelphia,  where  his  pre- 
eminently fascinating  and  versatde  powers  are  so  un- 
precedented in  attraction  that  it  is  almost  iniposible  to 
obtain  a  coup  c/W/ through  a  cievicel 


BIAST£]Il    BURHIII. 

The  following  votive  effusion  is  addressed  by  his  sincere  admirer, 
WiUiain  Bennet, 

Heaven  gifted  child !  whom  every  muse 

With  equal  right  may  claim  her  son. 
If  seraphs  e'er  with  mortals  choose 

To  hold  communion,  thoa  art  orre. 

While  music 's  tide  voluptuous  swells 

Along  thy  viol's  thrilling  strings, 
Or  thy  own  voice  with  dulcet  spells 

Unlocks  our  feeling  *s  deepest  strings. 

How  rapt  we  sit!  as  when  the  swains 
Of  Bethlehem  paused,  entranced,  to  hear 

Above  them  poured  celestial  strains 
From  angels '  harps  and  voices  near. 

And  when  thou  wieldest  Thalia's  wand, 
And  call  'st  boon  Laughter  from  her  bower, 

What  mind  so  torpid  to  withstand 
The  witchery  of  thy  comic  power ! 

Sweet  child !  whom  heaven  awhile  hath  lent 

To  prove  how  gifted  man  may  be. 
Ere  all  those  varied  powers  be  spent 

Hov/  bright  a  course  remains  for  thee ! 

And  e'en  that  course  when  fully  run, 
Thou  still  shalt  draw  the  admirer 's  eye, 

To  view  the  rank  thy  name  hath  won 
Among  the  stars  of  glory  's  sky. 


LIST 


CHARACTERS  AND  OVERTURES, 

PEEyORMED  BY 

IXEASTER  BURKE, 

During  his  engagement  at  the  Arch-street  Theatre,  Philadelphia, 
December,   1830. 

14.  Young  Nerval — Douglas;  Overture  to  Guy  ?»Iannering  ;  Terry 
O'liourke,  alias  Doctor  O' Toole — Irish  Tutor. 

16.  Doctor  Panglos — Heir  at  Law;  Overture  to  Taneredi ;  Sis  Cha- 
racters in  Whirligig  HalU 

18.  Duke  of  Gloster — Richard  III ;  Overture  to  La  Caravanne  ; 
Terry  O'Rourke,  alias  Doctor  O'Toole. 

20.  Young  Norval  ;   Six  Characters  in  the  March   of  Intellect ;  An 

Italian  Air,  w  ith  Variations  on  the  Violin. 

21.  Dennis  Brulgruddery — John  Bull;  Concerto  on  the  Violin;  Six 

Characters  in  Whirligig  Hull. 

22.  Shylock — Merchant  of  Venice ;  Overture  to  Guy  Mannering;  Six 

Characters  in  the  March  of  Intellect. 

23.  Sir  Abel  Ha'.idy — Speed  the  Plough  ;  Overture  to  the  Caliph  ot 

Bagdad  ;  Terry  O'Rourke,  alias  Doctor  O'Toole. 

24.  Duke   of    Gloster — Richard   III;    Overture  to  the  Exile;  Sir 

Callaghan  O'Brallaghan — Love  a  la  Mode, 

27.  Master  Burke's  Bemkit — Romeo — Rameo  and  Juliet ;  Over- 

ture to  Guy  Mannering  ;  Looney  Mactwolter— /iciiea'. 

28.  Doctor  Panglos;  Italian  Air  with  Variations  on  the  \'iolin  ;  Six 

Characters  in  the  March  of  Intellect. 

29.  Hamlet — Hamlet,  \st  ex.  2d  Acts;  Overture  to  Tancredi ;  Crack — 

Tur7ipike  Gate. 

30.  Mr.  IMaywood's  BK.NF.Frr — Young  Norval — Douglas,  3d  S:  Ath 

Acts ;    Overture  to  Guy  Mannering  ;   Sir  Callaghan  O'Bralla- 
ghan—  Loie  a  la  Mode 


Stajce. 


TIASTEH  BURKE 


Information  ^^athered  from 
various  jiiriorican  authorities, 

T.  Alls  ton  Brown  in  his 
"I-Iistory  of  the  /mierican  Sta^e" 
1870. 

T/aster  Burke  made  his  first 
appearance  at  the  lark  Theatre 
New  York,  November  22nd,  as 
Young  Norval  in  Douglas  and  as 
Dr.  C'Toole.   After  the  first 
piece  he  led  the  orchestra  in 
the  overture.   Ke  was  known  as 
the  Irish  Roscius  and  traveled 
throughout  the  states,   First 
appearance  in  Philadelphia 
December  14th, 1830,  as  "Young 
Ivorval^'  at  the  Arch  Street 
Theatre.    After  realizing  a 
fortune  he  retired  to  Batavia, 
-E.    Y, 


i 


Hj]I^Y  DICKINSON   STCWJl 

in  his 
"Personal  Recollections." 

.iloany,  N,  Y.  1875. 
faster  Burke  in  point  of 
precocious  musical  and  dra- 
matic talent  and  genius, 
eclipised  all  the  juvenile 
aspirants  that  ever  appeared 
in  this  or  any  .other  country. 
Burke's  "Dr.  Panf-rlos"  "Sir 
Peter  Tea  20.6"   ^»I)r  .  C  Toole" 
"Romeo"  "/oun?:  llorval"  were 
performed  in  a  manner  that 
excited  the  wonder  and  admira- 
tion of  the  playgoing  pu]jlic 
of  two  hemis])heres.    one 
would  scarcely  realize  the 
fact,  after  witnessing  Burke's 
rernarkaoie  delineations  of 
the  most  difficult  characters 
'oelonring  to  actors  of  upper 
years  and  longer  experience, 
and  the  next  day  meeting  the 
boy  in  the  street  cutting  up 
capers,  rolling  his  hoop, 
flying  his  kite,  playing 
marbles,  etc.,  utterly  regard- 
less of  the  remarks,  as  well 
as  astonishment  of  the  passing 
crowd,  and  apparently  uncon- 
scious of  the  enviable  and 
important  position  he  occupied 


before  the  world,  we  repeat 
it  could  hardly  be  realized 
that  this  mere  child,  who  was 
seen  the  previous  evening  ren- 
dering in  the  moat  artistic 
manner  the  difficuly  characters 
of  Sir  Peter  Teazle  

1/r.  Burke  is  now  fifty- three 
years  of  age  and  resides  in 
llev/  York,  engaged  in  the  pro- 
fession of  teacher  and  compo- 
ser of  music.    Ke  m^oves  in 
the  first  circles  of  society 
in  that  city,  honored  and  re- 
spected "by  all  who  know  him. 
Is  it  not  somewhat  remarkable 
that,  Yvith  the  many  rare  quali- 
ties Burke  is  admitted  to  possess, 
and  doubtless  the  numerous 
advantageous  opportunities 
present  during  his  ?-aany  years 
experience  in  f empale  society  - 


I 


he  being  deemed  v^hat  is  called 
"a  gcod  catch"  -  that  he  should 

h         so  lorif--:  re^iain  a  cache  lor,  which 
we  understand  he  still  is. 

Burlce  made  his  first  appearance 
in  Albany  at  the  Fearl  Street 
Theatre  in  1832. 


H.  H.  Phelps'  "Players  of  a 
Century,  a   record  of  the  ATosiuy 
Stage,  1880** 

Burpee  made  his  first  appear- 
ance in  Albany  June  20th,  1831; 
bain~  at  this  tirie  thirteen  yaars 
of  age 

It  is  said  of  young  3ur>:e 
that  his  readings  were  alYv'ays 

discrirainatinf:  and  forcible, 
and  entirely  frae  from  the  drilled 
mannerisms  of  most  child  actors, 
and  that  ail  his  attitudes  and 
gestures  were  easy,  striking  and 
appropriate.    Kis  performance 
of  Richard  the  Third,  Shylock 
and  Sir  Giles  was  so  good  that 
none  sneered  at  the  absurdity 
of  a  child  assuming  such  char- 
acters, v/hile  his  comedy,  especi- 
ally in  Irish  parts,  was  full  of 
genuine  humor  and  he  never  failed 
to  convulse  his  audience  with 
laughter.  His  rich  native  brogue 
contributing  not  a  little  in  such 
parts  as  The  Irish  Tutor. 

3urlce's  success  throughout 
the  country  Y/as  phenominal.   In 


Boston  'balls,  parties  sleigh- 
rides  and  social  featherings 
were  dispensed  with.   The 
theatre  v;as  the  center  of  the 
fashionable  and  literary  world 
and  the  boxes  were  filled  to 
the  utmost  capacity. ' 

For  several  seasons  he 
proved  attractive;  but,  his 
popularity  waning  he  revisited 
Jurope  and  studied  music  under 
the  best  masters.    He  re-appear ■ 
ed  in  iunorica  on  the  stage  at 
'^'allack's  National  as  late  as 
1839,  and  afterward  devoted 
himself  entirely  to  music. 

He  assisted  in  the  enter- 
tainments of  Jenny  Lind,  Gullien 
and  Thalberg,    He  afterwards 
studied  law  and,  for  some  years, 
resided  just  out  of  Albany,  on 
the  Troy  Road,  and  was  leader 
of  a  musical  association. 

He  no  longer  cares  to  revive 
the  raemories  of  these  -  his  most 
famous  days  -   s  will  be  seen 
by  the  following  letter: 


^'Batavia  IT.Y. 
June  30,  1879 

T'r.  H.  F.  Fhelps, 

Lear  Sir: 

TheT-3    is  nothin;;  of 
any  possible  interest  in  the 
Y/ay  of  personal  incident,  or 
reminescence ,  during  ray  resi- 
dence in  .ilbany,  that  I  recol- 
lect to  furnish  you  v/ith. 

Perhaps  some  of  those 
who  still  renember  me   may,  but 
I  doubt  it. 

Respectfully  yours 

(Si^^ned)   Jos.  Burke.*' 


Clarence  Kutton 

"Curiosities  of  The 

.toerican  Stage,  1891." 

^Two  precocious  youths, 
vi^hose  careers  upon  the 
American  Stage  were  not 
unlike  that  of  Master  Betty 
in  England,  were  Master  Payne 
and  Hastjr  3ur'ce. 

John  Howard  Payne  is  remem- 
bered now  as  the  author  of 
''Home  Sweet  Home.-*   He  is 
almost  forgotten  as  the  writer 
of  the  tragedy  of  Brutus,  and 
some  sixty  other  plays;  and  is 
forgotten  entirely  as  a  very 
successful  child  actor.   He 
made  his  first  appearance  as 
Young  Norval  at  the  Park  Theatre, 
New  York,  in  1809,  when  he  was 
but  seventeen  yc;ars  of  age.   He 
was  called  the  -'Favorite  Child 
of  Thespis."   His  performance 
was  declared  to  be  exquisite; 
one  enthusiastic  .-entleman 
glvin..^  him  Fifty  Dollars  for 
a  single  ticket  for  his  benefit 
at  Baltimore.    He  supported 


^'iss   0»l\Uell  in  the  British 
Provinces,  and  T'''rs.  Duff  in 
New  York.   Soon  he  was  "billed 
as  "'Twister"  Payne,  not  "I'aster; 

His  T;0pularity  ceased, 
and,  except  as  a  playwright, 
the  stage  knew  him  no  more. 

Faster  3urke  v/as  a  more 
unusual  wonder  for  he  was  a 
musica^  as  well  as  a  theatri- 
cal phenomenon.    He  led  the 
orchestra  in  operatic  over- 
tures, played  violin  solos, 
sung  humorous  songs,  and  as 
a  prodigy  both  in  music  and 
drama "i^r.  Irelend  Delieves 
that  he  has  oeen   unapproached 
by  any  child  who  has  trodden 
the  .^erican  Stage," 

As  a  r::an  he  was  considered 
one  of  the  most  perfect  violin- 
ists of  his  time  and  he  v/as 
last  heard  here  (iT.Y.  )  in 
public  at  the  concerts  of 
Jenny  Lind,  Jullien  and  Thalberg 
many  years  ago. 


I'ary  Caroline   Crawford   - 

«The   Romance    of    the   /inaerican 

Theatre,  1925. »' 

'♦....If  Celeste  lool^ed  to  be 
only  a  child,  Master  Joseph 
Burke  actually  was  a  child. 
His  success  was  of  the  most 
decided  character;  his  nights 
of  performance  attracting  - 
Ireland  tells  us  -  houses 
averaging  Twelve  Hundred 
Dollars. 

Christopher  Columbus  Baldwin, 
of  'Worcester,  has  an  interesting 
reference  in  "Diary'^  to  the 
talents  and  drawing  power  of 
Master  Burke: 

*He  is  now  twelve  2/ears 
of  age  and  is  the  most 
famous  actor  on  any  Am- 
erican stage.   He  is 
about  the  co  mon  size 
of  a  boy  of  twelve  years, 
trim.,  weil-built  with 
light  hair  and  dark  eyes 
and  rather  a  pleasant 
looking  lad.   Tnere  is 
nothing  in  his  phrenology 
that  indicates  such  talents 


as  he  undoubtedly  possess- 
es.  He  is  very  pleasant 
as  an  actor  and  has  none 
of  those  indescribable 
faults  '//hich  so  many  child 
actors  have,  such  as  attempt- 
ing to  change  their  voice, 
or  countenance,  and  -v/orst 
of  all  -their  gait,  without 
concealin^^  the  great  agony 
they  are  put  to  in  doing  it. 


I  went  to  sje 
successively, 
of  hiin  on  the 
and  concluded 
boy  after  ail 


him  four  nights 
I  became  tired 
last  night 
him  to  be  a 
There  v/ere 


good  houses  each  night 


t  II 


Burke  died  at  the  Park  Avenue 
Hotel,  January  19th,  1902.   Aged 

87  3^ears. 


This  Evening  ^^»«  ^l  elo-drama  of 

The  Maid  &  Magpie. 

Or,   Which  is  ^  rp  Thief? 

Gerard,  Mr  BARTLEV,     '^  a   »i  stice,  Mr  GKOVE, 

Francoenr,  Mr  PERKINS,     i^vcraid.  Mr  C.  F.  YOUNG, 

Blaisot,  Mr  POWER,     Bertrand,  Mr  SALTER, 

Isaac,  l\lr  T,  P.  COOKE, 

Dennis,  Mr  Mintoli,     Durutete.  Mr  Cooper,     Sentinel,   Mr.  Sanders '^ » 

'  Annette,  Miss  KELLY, 

Mrs  Gerald,  Mrs  TAYLEURE. 


After  wbich,  a  new  Burletta,  entitled 

Military  Tactics. 

The  Principal  Characters  by 

Mr.  BARTLEY     Mr  POWER.    Mr  PEARMAN, 
Mr  WRENCH.     Mr  BOWMAN, 
Miss  POVLY. 

After  which,      '^  t<  A 

MASTER  BURKE,  the  INFjlAT  PH(EJ>fOMEMOJV, 
V^      perform  on  the  Violin  and  sing**  PADDY  O'RAFFERTY.'' 

To  conclude  wit..  4  new  Gn    T  I^jitoinim©,  called 

i'he Monkey  Island; 

Ottraiig  Outang,  (Sovereign  of  Monkey  IslandJ  Mr  J.  COOPlil^, 

Pl.ivOi cheeks.  (Priine  Minister,  afterward*  Pantaloon)  Mr  BARNES, 

Goaeral  JackoO,  (afterward.s  Clown)  Mr  J.  S.  GRIMALDI, 

FOKKIGNERS. 

A/'r.    (a  Persian  Mariner,  afterwards  Harlequin)  Mr  ELLAR, 

Dinarzade.  (a  Female  Mountaneer,  botrothed  Ij  Azim.  biii;  kidnapped 

by  the  Wild  Men,  afterwards  Columbine)  Miss  ROMER, 

IMMORTALS. 

isBODKN,    Tfunkulo,  [Boatman]  Mr  ^  5  *  W, 

SLKNERY. 

».—  iLUxj  Loadstone  Ro.k-  -Storm   and  Shipwrftck,    (Wilson)    2. — Romantic 

Landscape  on  Monkey  Islu    "      Coyle)     S. — Cocca  Nut  Grove,  (Wilson)  Ccatt 

of  the  Kin?  of  Monkey  Iglaii:.     :      I'roadstai",    (Wilson)    5. — Interior  of  aa 

In«, — 6.    Pawnbroker's   Sho;-),    [Pitt]— 7.    Sea  View.    9.  Lodging:  House  and 

Doctor's  Shop. — 9.  InsiJe  o    "^f^etor's  House. — 10.  Wood.— H.  Landscape, — 19 

NajTcificient  Fairy  Palaee.  [^'valkar] 

Guv  Maiiijeiing,    Henry  Bertm  ;j,  Mr.  BrAham,  Lucy 
xjeii.^wi.  Miss  Noel,  ffiow  Rath)  Mrg  rv'^iiilies,  Mrs.  Egerton. 


THE 

A^D  ^ 

Daily  Bills  of  the  Play. 

"  Nothinjf  tixt^nuate  nor  set  down  aughi  in  malice." 

Xu   814            Saiarday,  Vuly  lof  1824.  P^  Ji— '• 
^""^QK 

Mr.  Connor,  Mr.  T.  P.  Cookf.    ...a,   .      '  -'^wtl'f  t     ^^^^^ 

a  joint  Benefit  here  last  nigh*    We  were  s*'^  ^  *  ,•  *^^rr^L, 
and  ''  forgery ,''  {not  murder,    if^ppily)   hau  '  V'^  . ' 

Connor  in  respect  of  his  tickets. — The  house  vvas  c^"'     '/i^f^A  f) 

IMrss  Harvkt  and  Mr.  Pjjilipps,  were    asfain  most  ^.    '    ably  r^ 
ceived  in  The  Da>'her  of  Seville,  last  night — There  was  a  goti'         i?. 

An  Opera,  upon  an  ex^jnsive  scale,  requiring  two  orchestras,  .s  to 
be  produced  here,  and  has  had  two  general  rehoi  :*al3;  the  music  by 
Weber,  which  is  very  scientific  and  efi"ective  ;  each  rehearsal  Ijas  oc- 
cupied six  hours.  Mr.  Braham  is  the  principal  character  in  it,  and 
has  paid  particular  attention  to  both  lehearsals.  The  Overture  to 
the  Opera  is  oy  the  same  :composer,  and  the  same  which  waa  pcT- 
formcd  at  the  Oratorios  last  seas'^jn  with  great  applause. 

J|?apmnrfect  €{)catr&» 

The  whole  of  tht  entertainments  last  night,  were  of  a  most  mirth- 
creating  description — ^jiist  such  SS  should  always  be  found  in  this  fa- 
vorite temple  of  humor.  The  first  piece  was  Matrimony,  in  which 
Mr.  ViMNG  and  Mrs.  Chatterley  sustained  with  excellent  effect  the 
characters  of  the  imprisoned  couple  who  are,  by  sympatliy  for  a  sup- 
posed mutual  misfortune,  brought  buck  to  love  and  forhearancc  towards 
each  other.  In  that  popular  piece  Sweethearts  md  IVivcs,  Madame 
Vestris,  Mrs.  T.  Hill,  Mr.  Vinino,  nnd  Mr.  Liston,  as  usual  de- 
lighted the  audience  in  an  extraordinary  degree.  The  last  portion  of 
the  performance  ^as  the  new  Farce  of  l4  Year  in  an  Hour,  in  which 
]>Tr.  Liston  again  kept  up  the  horse-laugh  he  had  so  often  before  raised 
as  Billy  Lackaday. — There  was  a  numerous  audience — This  evening, 
Rosina,  Every  One  has  his  Fault,  and  Fish  out  of  fFater. 

EDrurp  Hanc  Cticatre* 

IMadame  Catalaxi  was  here  again  last  night.  It  is  not  add  ing  to 
her  popularity,  nor  the  iuteresis  of  the  Theatre,  to  make  her  uselessly 
the  cause  of  excluding  the  persons  on  the  iVce-list. 

Sadler's  Tf^dis. — 1  his  little  Theatre  has  been  well  attended  this 
week,  inconsequence  of  the  numeious  attractive  jueces  that  ha?e 
been  produced. — Messrs.  Lancaster,  Vale,  King,  Miss  Johnstone, 
Miss  Vincent,  &c.  acted  extremely  well. 

Davis^s  Amphitheatre — The  splendid  spectacle  of  1  he  Battle  of. 
ffaterloo,  with  Mons.  Ducrow's  astonishing  horsemanship,  and  the 
melo-drama  of  jJgamemnoji,  continue  to  draw  excellent  houses. 

Vauxhall — This  Evening  the  grand  Annual  J\:\&iiiLz  Fkat  ! 


i 


HOME  USE 

CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

MAIN  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 
1 -month  loans  may  be  renewed  by  calling  642-3405. 
Bmonth  loans  may  be  recharged  by  bringing  books 

to  Circulation  Desk. 
Renewals  and  recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior 

to  due  date. 

ALL  BOOKS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  RECALL  7  DAYS 

AFTER  DATE  CHECKED  OUT. 


^mm    mlWK'^ 


LD21 — A-40m-i2,'74  General  Library 

(S2700L)  University  of  California 

Berkeley 


ivil667^-"^ 


«lJ  t 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  LIBRARY 


